Audio for this post would be very Homer Simpson-esque. 😉
CakeLove is offering 30% off its cupcakes in October. It’s the only place in the world where you don’t feel ripped off when you pay three bucks a pop, but hell, now they’re $2. What’s not to love?
Because it’s required by blog law that I link to Sherri on Mondays, I was inspired by her celebrity collage enough to make one of my own.
I hate this photo of myself, but that’s the first photo I found and, let’s face it, I hate all photos of myself. I do want to try it with another one — I mean, on what planet would I be confused with Tara Reid? (Minus the drinking problem!) 😉
Speaking of which, I just picked up a beautiful bottle of Belle Vallee — the ’04 Pinot Gris. Might as well crack that bitch open tonight. *glug*
Yesterday I had the bright idea to go get an oil change at my friendly neighborhood mechanic’s. Turns out, I drove all the way out to BFE and they’re not even open on weekends. Gah.
So, I hauled ass all the way back to Alexandria to my old mechanic where I’ve taken my car for the past four years. And whee, that $30 oil change turned into $100 to include power steering service. Which, I learned now that I probably could have done it myself for $7, but don’t say that to someone who isn’t overly sure how to release the hood. (Damn latch; I always cut myself on it.)
My other goal for the weekend (other than getting to Pennsylvania, which I did today) was to go see “The Last Kiss.” Because Zach Braff? *fans self* Seeing his lips on a movie screen is enough to make me happy for a few hours. 😉
A REVIEW WITHOUT SPOILERS
Let’s say neither the film were the soundtrack were anywhere NEAR the magnificence of “Garden State,” but not bad, in any event. We got back Cary Brothers and Coldplay (thumbs-up and thumbs-down, IMHO), and Snow Patrol’s “Chocolate” was in there, but I doubt I’ll do anything more than grab a couple of MP3s and not the whole album. (I’m still annoyed that on the new “Grey’s Anatomy” soundtrack, you can only buy the acoustic version of “Chasing Cars” with the whole album.)
Oh well. It’s hard to live up to perfection when you achieved it the first time around, hence why I will never have the problem of wanting to return to any mythical “glory days” because they have yet to occur. 🙂
In any event, when the hell did theaters stop offering matinee prices? I mean, it’s highway robbery to charge us $9 or $10 plus whatever online fees we incur for the regular show, but at least getting off for $7 or $7.50 wasn’t too terrible in comparison. Some of my local theaters only offer “cheap” prices before noon, if at all.
LACK OF SELF-CHECKOUT SHOULD BE A CRIME
And damn it to hell, I raced from car odyssey to theater, only to miss the morning showing by 10 freaking minutes. I would have ducked in late, but the ticket agent was all chatty with the people in line and I wasn’t getting anywhere. I tried all six ticket kiosks but each one said to go to another kiosk to make the purchase. Argh! I did go back and got behind every fucking moron on their cell phone who had 9 million questions for the two box office people. Dimwit in front of me was calling his friends in the car, supposedly, and asking when the next showings were. (The whole day’s listings are on the fucking billboard, illiterate. Gah.)
In any event, “The Last Kiss.” I really liked it, only for the fact that it’s the way I write. (I know it’s a remake. Bear with me.) I could/would have written that film, given the time and budget. 🙂 I like those heart- and gut-wrenching moral dilemmas. I absolutely get Braff’s character, who’s wondering if there are any surprises left in life.
SOME DAYS, I THINK MARS SHOULD BE A DWARF PLANET
I kind of got mad at Eric Christian Olsen’s character (I got him, but his actions annoyed me as a chick). Now, I was just happy to drool over the long-haired hottie from “Rent,” but his overnight relationship with “Danielle” reminded me of someone from 100 (OK, five) years ago. It’s a Mars/Venus thing, of course. She asked him to drop by at 8 p.m., auspiciously for sex but actually to meet her parents. And he ran for the hills, never to return to her again.
Now, I’d never pull such a stunt — I have introduced exactly zero of the people I’ve dated to my family. Mostly because occasion never really arose, but also because I learned the hard way that it’s a Big Thing to meet the family. Which, I don’t get, but I suppose that I have to. I happen to like my family. Most of the time. 😉 So to me, introducing someone to them means exactly nothing insofar as getting serious. (Does meeting the parents imply a ring is coming? I don’t get it. Really.)
Hell, my family wishes they could meet someone who’s ever lucky enough to occupy cognitive real estate in my world. I highly doubt they’d hire a wedding planner (they can’t afford to, for one!) — instead, it would just secure it in their minds that I’m mostly straight. 😉 My family has one rule for my dating life: Don’t bring home any terrorists. Anyone else would just be accepted as someone I haven’t gotten too annoyed with yet!
Anyway, I didn’t mean to call the show a “$9 nap.” It would be for men, though, minus some rather hot sex scenes. I didn’t really like Jacinda Barrett, not that I like Rachel Bilson either, but I identified in a big way with Rachel’s “Kim.” I loved the ending, not necessarily for where he ended up but literally for the way the movie closed.
That’s a very “me” type of ending. I’m satisfied with questions. I’m put off by resolution. It’s almost like I enjoy being in existential limbo — at least I know there’s still hope for better things, no matter what they might be. Because when you have to make a choice (and believe me, I know that fork in the road altogether too well), you just have to plunge ahead in one direction, but that doesn’t stop you from knowing in your heart that you have to leave something behind and hoping against hope that the road might bring you back around that cul-de-sac one last time to get it right if you didn’t already. …
I am sittin’ here, jonesing for a Ho-Ho or some other chocolate-themed goodness to get me through the rest of this day (believe me, it’d burn off by the time I go home). And the thought of eating something and my skirt thus feeling any more snug is enough to go make me throw up my coffee and Black Cherry Vanilla Diet Coke.
See, there’s the easiest weight-loss idea ever — wear your favorite clothes, even if they no longer fit. Makes you want to sooner stab a fork in your EYE than let it spear some scrumptious goodness that’s going to ensure the zipper that’s holding on for dear life doesn’t commit suicide till you can put on something a little more forgiving.
Well, it works for now, but alas, don’t think I ain’t going home and snarfing down some Black & Tan to make myself feel better. … 😉
I’m slated to host the Carnival of the Recipes on July 2.
I think my theme will be “Fireworks” — spicy, sparkling and splendid.
Can ya throw a girl a bone and post a recipe around that time that fits the bill? I can post it here if you’re sans blog. I’m looking for stuff you’d serve at a Fourth of July picnic.
Bonus points if it’s easy, as this is the girl who buys out half of Safeway and Costco and then orders pizza and drives through fast-food joints so that I don’t have to cook.
Double bonus points if it’s a pretty dish. Photos encouraged!
… and tan …
(I’m talkin’ about stout, people. Where did you THINK I was going with this?) 😉
Let the summer threesome season begin — Ben & Jerry’s has released a glorious summer flavor hereby known lovingly as Black & Tan. It’s an orgasm without lube (or batteries, depending on your situation).
The kid at Safeway told me that there’s apparently some drama around the name, as B&J had to apologize to the Irish for using it when it refers back to British soldiers. The kid also suggested that the controversial packaging might be a collector’s item, which yeah, right — like I was going to leave a pint of ice cream unopened in MY house!
I think he was overstating the issue a bit, but this was probably the first time I had a checkout clerk not only speak to me, but also speak English, and coherently at that. That’s about as historical as this experience will ever be!
Or, what I had for dinner last night. And weird as it sounds? It was tasty. Pasta spirals with a cheese sauce topped with melted cheese on garlicky bread. What’s not to love?
Well, from the last eleventy billion posts, we know I’m moving. I just got off the phone with the moving company. (*hyperventilating*) So freaking much to do still, but after a year and a half ago when homelessness (due to no cash inflow) was a probability and not just a possibility, now I’m moving into a Really Nice Place. I knew the day would come; I guess I just didn’t know if I would ever deserve it.
That”s the thing. When you’re on a certain path and even very successful at what you do, and suddenly it’s ripped from you, it’s heartbreaking to go back to eating ramen noodles while your friends are buying homes and getting married and getting great promotions when it feels like the universe stepped its heavy foot on your forehead and kicked you back six turns in the game of Life.
But I’m proof that you just need to wait for your turn and to give it all you’ve got. Any step that’s away from the rut in which you find yourself is progress.
Amalah gave me that step. She gave me that helping hand when I was literally drowning. And now she’s taking that huge, big, wonderful, awe-inspiring and freakin’ scary step into the wild, wonderful world of freelance. Congratulations, Amy! Corporate rah-rah lovefests just won’t be the same without you. 😉 Although, seriously, you have an open invitation to bring the Noahlah by so you can brag about how fabulously you’re doing!
And in another plot twist, could the Tiff and Tom wedding details really, truly be secured?!?! w00t! I have to go find a dress because I, as Tiff accurately noted, have to get my heathen ass to church twice in the same year. 😉 Many, many congratulations are in order here — these two deserve a lifetime-achievement medal for having Everything. That. Could. Go. Wrong. happen and still be sane and willing to try Just. One. More. Idea.
In other great news, Erica and Amy have new jobs. Celebrate good times COME ON! Proud of ya, girls! The interview process and the waiting is hell. Here’s to a successful journey for you both!
So, what’s YOUR life-changing milestone? Because I want to celebrate you for it — too many of us are drowning in the day-to-day details but yet managing to pull off some minor miracle under the radar.
Just goes to show, we shouldn’t be afraid to want things — to dream as far as our minds will take us. Sometimes it feels like we’re swimming against the current just to get through, but other days, the wind will pluck us up and push us to dry land where our only limits are as far as we can run. May our spirits never tire and may our setbacks serve to catapult us twice as far ahead. And may the world turn our future autobiographies into best-sellers!
On iTunes: Anna Nalick, “In the Rough”
[audio:AnnaNalick_InTheRough.mp3]While on my summer mental health vacation today, I:
I am havin’ a blast, in case that wasn’t obvious!
Oh, I also picked up a pizza. During rush hour. Where I could see 395 traffic lined up for MILES. And there I was on the side street, happily zipping along with nary a pulmonary embolism forming in my chest from the usual stress. Sweet!
